Way to go, Obamabots. Keep spewing this sort of drivel and you’ll wind up alienating all of the tens of millions of Americans who work hard and don’t live in NY or LA.
Subject: Sarah Palin
This is an email I received from a good friend in New York City. She is a Bryn Mawr graduate, and is a physician currently engaged in cancer research at Columbia University. This is an email she received from a Bryn Mawr classmate of hers who lives in Alaska.Because you, like me, may never have heard of Sarah Palin until today, you may find this an interesting perspective from an Alaskan resident.
Begin forwarded message:
Subject: just in from Bonnie’s classmate
Dear classmates –
As an Alaskan, I am writing to give all of you some information on Sarah Palin, Senator McCain’s choice for VP. As an Alaska voter, I know more than most of you about her and, frankly, I am horrified that he picked her.
The most accurate description of her is red neck. Her husband works in the oil fields of Prudhoe Bay and races snow mobiles. She is a life time member of the NRA and has worked tirelessly to allow indiscriminate hunting of wildlife in Alaska, particularly wolves and bears. She has spent millions of Alaska state dollars on aerial hunting of these predators from helicopters and airplanes, dollars that should have been spent, for example, on Alaska’s failing school system.We have the lowest rate of high school graduation in the country. Not all of you may think aerial predator hunting is so bad, but how anyone (other than Alaska wolf-haters, of which there are many, most without teeth), could think this use of funds is appropriate is beyond me. If you want to know more about the aerial hunting travesty, let me know and I will send some links to informative web sites.
She has been a strong supporter of increased use of fossil fuels, yet the McCain campaign has the nerve to say she has “green” policies. The only thing green about Sarah Palin is her lack of experience. She has consistently supported drilling in ANWR, use of coal-burning power plants (as I write this, a new coal plant is being built in her home town of Wasilla), strip mining, and almost anything else that will unnecessarily exploit the diminishing resources of Alaska and destroy its environment.
Prior to her one year as governor of Alaska, she was mayor of Wasilla, a small red neck town outside Anchorage.The average maximum education level of parents of junior high school kids in Wasilla is 10th grade. Unfortunately, I have to go to Wasilla every week to get groceries and other supplies, so I have continual contact with the people who put Palin in office in the first place. I know what I’m talking about. These people don’t have a concept of the world around them or of the serious issues facing the US. Furthermore, they don’t care. So long as they can go out and hunt their moose every fall, kill wolves and bears and drive their snow mobiles and ATVs through every corner of the wilderness, they’re happy. I wish I were exaggerating.
Sarah Palin is currently involved in a political corruption scandal. She fired an individual in law enforcement here because she didn’t like how he treated one of her relatives during a divorce. The man’s performance and ability weren’t considered; it was a totally personal firing and is currently under investigation. While the issue isn’t close to the scandal of Ted Steven’s corruption, it shows that Palin isn’t “squeaky clean” and causes me to think there may be more issues that could come to light. Clearly McCain doesn’t care.
When you line Palin up with Biden, the comparison would be laughable if it weren’t so serious. Sarah Palin knows nothing of economics (admittedly a weak area for McCain), or of international affairs, knows nothing of national government, Social Security, unemployment, health care systems – you name it. The idea of her meeting with heads of foreign governments around the world truly frightens me.
In an increasingly dangerous world, with the economy in shambles in the US, Sarah Palin is uniquely UNqualified to be vice president. John McCain is not a young man. Should something happen to him such that the vice president had to step in, it would destroy our country and possibly the world to have someone as inexperienced and inappropriate as Sarah Palin. The choice of Palin is a cheap shot by McCain to try to get Hillary supporters to vote for him. when McCain introduced her today, Palin had the nerve to compare herself with Hillary and Geraldine Ferraro. Sarah Palin, you are no Hillary Clinton.
To those of you who, like me, supported Hillary and were upset that she did not get the nomination, please don’t think that Sarah Palin is a worthy substitute. If you supported Hillary, regardless of what you think the media and the Democratic party may have done to undermine her campaign, the person to support now is Obama, not Sarah Palin. To those of you who are independent or undecided, don’t let the choice of Palin sway you in favor of McCain. Choosing her shows how unqualified McCain is to be president. To those of you who are conservative, I guess you have no choice for president. But please try to see how the poor choice of Palin tells us a great deal about McCain’s judgment. While the political posturing inherent in the choice of Palin is obvious, the more serious issue is the fact that the VP is, literally, a heartbeat away from the presidency. Sarah Palin is totally and unequivocally unqualified to be vice president, let alone president.
I know this is a lengthy and emotional email, but the stakes are high. I thought it might help for all of you, regardless of political affiliation, to know something about Palin from someone who has to live with her administration in Alaska on a daily basis.
Jackie S.
So, why is this supposed Bryn Mawr alum Jackie S. who tries to appear educated, hip and urban living in Alaska anyway? This sounds like a plant to me.
Filed under: 2008 Elections, National Politics, Nutroots, Sarah Palin, Teleprompter Barry
sounds like more elitism to me. Red necks can’t be Vice President? Typical liberal.
Sure wonder what this woman looks like when she walks into her Wasilla grocery story for her weekly stock-up? Does she talk to the check-out person? Ask that person how many grades in school he/she and his/her parents went through?
I’m appalled at McCain’s choice for VP, but this Bryn Mawr woman – WOW – a pox on her and her attitude.
As for Hirons comment – This kind of behaviour is NOT IN ANY WAY typical of a liberal, and don’t you forget it!
Very typical, sadly.
I saw a copy of this and it came from fullcircle@alaska.com not from NYC definately “fake”.
Obviously Jackie S. is an outsider who moved to Alaska to take advantage of the higher rate of pay most jobs in Alaska offer. This is so typical, and not the opinion of most Alaskans who have lived here and thrived for so many years.
Sarah Palin has fought hard for Alaska, and the interest of most who live here, to lead a subsistence or semi-subsistence lifestyle. As for this “Aerial hunting travesty”, I bet she would be all for it if her pets or children were being stalked in her own backyard by starving wolves. The population of wolves in some areas is so high they have killed all of the moose, rabbits, etc. and therefore depleted their, and our, food sources. So, naturally, they are starting to hunt beyond their normal perimeters.
If we keep depending on foreign oil sources, Jackie S. may just have to take up the subsistence lifestyle she so hates. Way to go McCain for choosing a woman who has proven she can get the job done. Palin did not fire the Trooper in question, she fired the Public Safety Commissioner because he wasn’t doing his job. However, did you know that the Trooper in question used a taser on his step-son and has a number of criminal charges pending against him right now? I don’t want someone like that entrusted with protecting Alaskans, why is everyone defending him?
You’re right Jackie S., Sarah Palin is NOTHING like Hillary, and thank God for that! If you don’t like our way of life here….leave!
I tracked down this diatribe to a person named Sammy S, from LOS ANGELES, posted on the internet. However, let us consider Sammy’s points.
> The most accurate description of her is red neck. Her husband works in the oil fields of Prudhoe Bay and races snow mobiles.
Oooooh! She must be an awful person, then!
> She is a life time member of the NRA
In Alaska, being a member of the NRA has a completely different connotation than being a member in LA or New York. Many people in Alaska rely on hunting of moose and caribou to survive. And there’s much less violent crime per capita.
> and has worked tirelessly to allow indiscriminate hunting of wildlife in Alaska, particularly wolves
Okay, this concerned me, so I checked it out. Apparently, there are some specific areas within Alaska where the moose and caribou populations are extremely threatened by predators. Governor Palin has moved to allow culling of wolf and bear – not endangered species – packs to promote the growth of their dwindling populations. In the past five years, more than 700 wolves HAVE been killed. However, wildlife biologists give the annual kill rate for wolves – that is, the number of kills required to maintain a stable population – at 643 per YEAR! In other words, the wolf population in these regions is exploding, severely threatening other indigenous wildlife.
> and bears.
Also a problem in some areas. Palin has by no means moved to allow indiscriminate hunting of these animals across widespread tracts of land – merely systematic thinning of populations in restrictive regions where the populations have gotten out of hand.
> She has spent millions of Alaska state dollars on aerial hunting of these predators from helicopters and airplanes,
True. However, consider that aerial hunting is more efficient than land based hunting (http://www.slate.com/id/2199140/) and you’ll see that this actually saves the state money in terms of Wildlife and Game commission salaries.
> dollars that should have been spent, for example, on Alaska’s failing school system. We have the lowest rate of high school graduation in the country.
Consider, however, that Palin’s administration has strongly supported the University of Alaska.
“The University of Alaska received a 7-percent increase in funds for the 2008-9 budget year, only the fourth time in 20 years that the system has won an increase greater than the state’s fixed-cost requirement. The university plans to use the extra money to expand programs in high-demand fields, such as health and engineering, and to support research into climate change, energy, and biomedical sciences. The state also provided a fourfold increase in the university’s budget for deferred maintenance, which rose to $48-million.”
(http://chronicle.com/weekly/almanac/2008/regions/pacificwest.htm)
This is extremely important, as prior to this, only ~13% of high school graduates continued on to higher education. More money for the university systems means more students progressing to and through college, which leads to more students finishing high school.
A major problem with education in Alaska remains its relative geographic isolation. Even with a high school diploma, it is difficult for young people to find jobs. Bolstering the University system attracts research and high-tech jobs to Alaska, which leads to more jobs, and thus more students continuing their education.
> Not all of you may think aerial predator hunting is so bad, but how anyone (other than Alaska wolf-haters, of which there are many, most without teeth),
Someone who uses this kind of invective rhetoric is someone that you want be listening to? “Most without teeth”?
> could think this use of funds is appropriate is beyond me.
Consider that the Alaskan government, both Democrat and Republican, spends hundreds of thousands of dollars yearly to cull the predator populations. Now consider that, as a newer, more effective and cost-efficient method of doing so has arisen, Governor Palin has moved to support it. Supporting new technologies and techniques is one of the reasons that Alaska has had a budget surplus under Palin’s stewardship.
The hunting of wolves hurts my heart. However, after doing the research, it is apparent that, while outwardly barbarous, it is actually quite necessary for the sustainability of the Alaskan ecosystem. Sure, it’s a dirty job. But I cut the heads off of deceased ferrets as part of mine, so…does that make me a redneck?
> If you want to know more about the aerial hunting travesty, let me know and I will send some links to informative web sites.
Or, do the research on your own, and don’t trust what someone with an agenda leads you to.
Many in the lower 48 don’t really appreciate how Alaska works. Suffice to say that it is a state almost as big as 1/3 of the rest of the US. There are tons of bears and wolves, both of which really do attack and kill people from time to time. And it gets so cold and windy in some parts of the state, that fur is not a fashion statement, it is the best protection from almost instant frostbite. There is also a large native population that is very vocal about maintaining their traditions, like hunting polar bears and whales.
Alaskans know well how much their lives depend on the health of the land and sea around them.
> She has been a strong supporter of increased use of fossil fuels,
Actually, so has Obama – on August 4th, he stated his intentions to complete a natural gas pipeline in Alaska and to give families a $1,000 energy rebate.
> yet the McCain campaign has the nerve to say she has “green” policies.
The only people I’ve heard saying this are those wanting to ridicule the McCain campaign. Palin has acted to preserve the interests of citizens of Alaska AS citizens of Alaska. As far removed as the rest of us urban denizens of this country are, we cannot truly understand what “green” means. We drive to work. We consume fossil fuels at a ridiculous rate, don’t recycle, and pollute the environment with our countless starbucks and McDonald’s containers, yet we have the audacity to call ourselves “green” because we support “green” causes.
Whereas Alaskans ARE green. They live off the land, with the land, and lead the nation in conservation of resources.
It’s an entirely different perspective, and, unfortunately, the majority of urban dwellers in the US don’t bother trying to reconcile the apparent contradictions. Instead, they lambaste Palin for her decisions in support of Alaska.
> The only thing green about Sarah Palin is her lack of experience.
So, what about Obama? Isn’t is preferable to have a “green” Vice-President, than to have a “green” PRESIDENT?!!
> She has consistently supported drilling in ANWR,
Another common complaint. Consider that fewer than 1% of Americans will EVER visit the ANWR, and that those that do will see less than 5% of it. It’s HUGE. And the fact of the matter is that we ARE dependent on fossil fuel, and much as we might wish for this to change, it’s not likely to happen any time soon. So, should we consistently give a large portion of our profits to overseas concerns – many of whom support terrorism – or should we move to retain some of our hard earned currency by becoming a bit more self-sufficient? ANWR is not endangered. As a government property, any and all drilling must conform to EPA regulations, and must not disrupt the ecosystem at large.
> use of coal-burning power plants (as I write this, a new coal plant is being built in her home town of Wasilla ),
Coal mining is a major part of Alaska’s economy. Honestly, it’s a major part of Illinois’ as well. Many things need to change before coal burning can be legislated against. Alaska is COLD! What would Sammy from LA (!) recommend they burn in order to keep themselves warm?
> strip mining, and almost anything else that will unnecessarily exploit the diminishing resources of Alaska and destroy its environment.
The ONLY information regarding this claim which I can find is the claim itself. I can’t find ANY evidence to support it, nor to contradict it. Therefore, I must assume it is BOGUS until proven otherwise.
> Prior to her one year as governor of Alaska, she was mayor of Wasilla, a small red neck town outside Anchorage.
Oh, no! Rednecks! We should just band together and deport them all to their own country.
> The average maximum education level of parents of junior high school kids in Wasilla is 10th grade.
Explain to me how this is pertinent?
> Unfortunately, I have to go to Wasilla every week to get groceries and other supplies, so I have continual contact with the people who put Palin in office in the first place.
Poor Sammy. It must be an extremely long commute from LOS ANGELES. Regardless, what an awfully bigoted thing to say! His community doesn’t have the necessaries, so he has to buy them in Wasilla, and doesn’t like the people living there? Oh, goodness gracious! Well, since he’s obviously such a fine judge of character, they must be truly evil people, indeed!
> I know what I’m talking about.
See? He KNOWS what he’s talking about!
> These people don’t have a concept of the world around them or of the serious issues facing the US.
He’s right. They’re probably more concerned with struggling to survive.
> Furthermore, they don’t care.
I guess Sammy would know…
> So long as they can go out and hunt their moose every fall,
Or starve…
> kill wolves and bears
Again, only state employees of Fish and Game are allowed to do this…
> and drive their snow mobiles and ATVs through every corner of the wilderness,
Well, their corner of the wilderness is relatively isolated. By which I mean, that without the dreaded SNOWMOBILES and ATVs (oooooh!), they would be completely unable to get around, and would most probably die, which, judging for this person’s above statements, would be a good thing…
> they’re happy. I wish I were exaggerating.
I wish he were backing up his claims with evidence!
> Sarah Palin is currently involved in a political corruption scandal.
This is true. So is OBAMA. Obama is, in fact, involved in more than one corruption scandal. And then there’s his shady campaign contributors, and he and his wife’s real estate scandals.
Once again, better for the VP to be under investigation? Or for the PRESIDENT to be under investigation? You decide.
> She fired an individual in law enforcement here
She then offered him another government job with equal salary, benefits, and less responsibilities, which he refused.
> because she didn’t like how he treated one of her relatives during a divorce.
He apparently made repeated death threats over the phone.
> The man’s performance and ability weren’t considered;
The making of death threats is a performance issue, according to my reasoning. Likewise, being that he was offered another position, his ability was obviously never in question.
> it was a totally personal firing and is currently under investigation.
We won’t know whether or not this was indeed a “totally personal firing” until the investigation has concluded. This statement is missing the key word “alleged”.
> While the issue isn’t close to the scandal of Ted Steven’s corruption,
Senior senator (R) from Alaska, who, on July 29, 2008, was indicted by a federal grand jury on seven counts of failing to report gifts received from VECO Corporation and its CEO Bill Allen on his Senate financial disclosure forms. Stevens is specifically charged with violating provisions of the Ethics in Government Act. The charges relate to renovations to his home and to more than $250,000 worth of gifts. On July 31, 2008 Stevens pleaded not guilty to the charges in a federal district court, and he requested that the trial be done before the 2008 election.
Compare and contrast!
> it shows that Palin isn’t “squeaky clean” and causes me to think there may be more issues that could come to light. Clearly McCain doesn’t care.
CLEARLY McCain doesn’t care! Everyone, myself included, has some questionable activity with which they’ve been involved, ESPECIALLY if their chosen field is politics. Show me a politician who IS squeaky clean, and I’ll show you the blinders that you’re wearing.
> When you line Palin up with Biden, the comparison would be laughable if it weren’t so serious.
Again, see how many of his complaints about Palin mirror those about Obama? So, which is more important? President, or Vice-president?
> Sarah Palin knows nothing of economics
She knows how to keep her state operating with a budget surplus…
> (admittedly a weak area for McCain),
And, that’s why you have a presidential CABINET! Because nobody knows everything about everything.
> or of international affairs,
What does Obama know? Again, Prez or VP? Cabinet! I believe I’ve mentioned these things before.
> knows nothing of national government, Social Security,
What does Obama know? He worked as a senator for a mere 12 months before embarking on the campaign trail. Again, Prez, or VP?
> unemployment,
She knows plenty. She’s worked tirelessly to bring new jobs to Alaska.
> health care systems – you name it.
Again. P or VP? Cabinet.
> The idea of her meeting with heads of foreign governments around the world truly frightens me.
Why? What do you think she could do? She’s an amiable person, and that makes the most impact when meeting with foreign leaders. No different than Obama.
> In an increasingly dangerous world, with the economy in shambles in the US,
Palin actually understands the need to bolster economies, as explained above.
> Sarah Palin is uniquely UNqualified to be vice president. John McCain is not a young man.
But he’s a healthy man.
> Should something happen to him such that the vice president had to step in, it would destroy our country and possibly the world
See? If McCain were to die, then Armageddon would commence immediately!
> to have someone as inexperienced and inappropriate as Sarah Palin.
As opposed to having a PRESIDENT (Obama) as inexperienced as her? Of course, THAT wouldn’t destroy the world, now, would it?!
> The choice of Palin is a cheap shot by McCain to try to get Hillary supporters to vote for him. when McCain introduced her today, Palin had the nerve to compare herself with Hillary and Geraldine Ferraro. Sarah Palin, you are no Hillary Clinton.
“You are no Hillary Clinton”. To which I say, “thank God”.
> To those of you who, like me, supported Hilary and were upset that she did not get the nomination, please don’t think that Sarah Palin is
a worthy substitute. If you supported Hillary, regardless of what you think the media and the democratic party may have done to undermine
her campaign, the person to support now is Obama, not Sarah Palin. To those of you who are independent or undecided, don’t let the choice of
Palin sway you in favor of McCain. Choosing her shows how unqualified McCain is to be president. To those of you who are conservative, I guess you have no choice for president. But please try to see how the poor choice of Palin tells us a great deal about McCain’s judgment.
So, what does the choice of an inexperienced Presidential candidate say about the DEMOCRATIC PARTY?!
> While the political posturing inherent in the choice of Palin is obvious, the more serious issue is the fact that the VP is, literally, a heartbeat away from the presidency.
In other words, McCain IS qualified to be President. Again, compare and contrast: P or VP?
> Sarah Palin is totally and unequivocally unqualified to be vice president, let alone president.
As is Barack Obama. But he’s still the only other choice. P or VP?
> I know this is a lengthy and emotional email, but the stakes are high. I thought it might help for all of you, regardless of political affiliation, to know something about Palin from someone who has to live with her administration in Alaska on a daily basis.
Namely, Sammy S., from Los Angeles.